Running to win

Desperate situations sometimes call for desperate measures, and cutting the supply line to our earthly nature means getting radical. Jesus puts it like this: 'If your right eye causes you to sin, poke it out and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body, than for your whole body to end up in hell' (Matthew 5:29-30 CEV). Seems pretty drastic! But what Jesus is suggesting is moral and spiritual surgery - and that's radical!

It's impossible to argue, reason or negotiate with sin. Whatever our personal battle with temptation is - alcohol, drugs, device usage, wrong relationships, pride, food - its purpose is to destroy us. So we need to destroy it and overcome.

The apostle Paul was familiar with Old Testament Scripture. He knew that Samson fell while Joseph stood strong when faced with similar temptations. That's why he wrote to his spiritual son, Timothy, warning him about the sin that could disqualify him and keep him from winning the race: 'Run from temptations that capture young people' (2 Timothy 2:22 CEV).



So what now? Life is saturated with seductive influences, which means you can't always eliminate the source. So Paul told Timothy (and now you!) - when you can't remove the influence, remove yourself! And run, don't walk. You can be free, but your earthly mind will only give you a few seconds before it decides for you. So don't hesitate, don't try to make excuses, and don't procrastinate. Do what needs to be done - and do it quickly. You are made to live free.





— SCRIPTURE —

'Run from temptations.' 2 Timothy 2:22 CEV
— SOULFOOD —

Acts 8-9, Matt 8:28-34, Ps 118:10-18, Pro 15:31-32